An Unforgettable TRIP by Neava Jagtap

Hello everyone! This past week has truly been an unforgettable TRIP. It has been amazing to be working in the laboratory and learning about research– something that is so meaningful to me. Recently, I have been learning about the effects of the food that we consume on our mental health and behavior. For example, did you know that your gut and intestinal health might be related to the neuroinflammation and neurotransmitter production that changes the way you respond to stress? Unfortunately, as high-sugar, greasy, and excessively fibrous foods have exacerbated stress on our digestive intestines, intestinal inflammation-related illnesses such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease have become more common in America. As someone who loves trying new cuisines, I wanted to learn more about the gut-brain axis by investigating the effects of intestinal inflammation on adult fruit fly behavior. 

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Throughout my experimentation, I have had the opportunity to master many laboratory skills and technologies that I hope to use in the future (especially the serological pipette and incubator). Not only that, but I also had the opportunity to learn about a variety of assays and use them in my research. My favorite assay has definitely been the gut-microbiome assay because of how much it reveals about fruit flies. In all assays (not just the gut-microbiome assay), I believe I have had the perfect balance of freedom and guidance to allow myself to have the perfect mix of creativity and structure in the lab. For example, while performing the female fertility assay, although I had the freedom to tailor every step in the protocol to our flies, if I needed help (as I certainly did after almost allowing my flies to escape), we came together to problem-solve and help one another. I feel that working in the lab to answer a question that was so meaningful to me was the perfect way to spend part of my summer. 
Although the experimentation aspect of my time with Summer TRIP was significant, I believe that the career talks and FCCC tours were just as exciting. My favorite career talks were from Dr. Purdy and Dr. Rall because their love for everything they do was so evident throughout their discussions. The Fox Chase tours around the laboratories and the animal facilities were some of the most memorable tours I have been on because of just how amazing some of the work the scientists were performing inside of the facilities was. In fact, I learned about the work of one researcher in discovering a gene. 

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As this program comes to an end, I will especially miss my fellow TRIP interns, TAs, and Dr. Austria. I have loved getting to know everyone in the program. We have tackled obstacles together, shared insights, and learned together. I am going to miss our lunches, laboratory laughs, and snack-times. I wish we had more time in the lab and with one another. 
I recommend TRIP to anyone who is curious about the sciences or pursuing research. This program certainly fueled my curiosity and taught me the importance of critical thinking and even thinking on “the fly” in the laboratory. Together, I believe my fellow interns and I learned how to work together as a team when we inevitably struggle at something. TRIP is really a great opportunity to explore a question of your choosing, become part of a larger community, and you never know what might come of your experience. 
With that, thank you so much for taking the time to read my reflection!

Until next time, 

​Neava Jagtap

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